Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Oh, where to start! Let’s see, I began writing when I was 8 years old. A woman I knew had written a one page story and thought it was the coolest thing to be able to make up your own characters, places, names and whatever so I wrote my own one page story and it grew from there. Of course, the older I got, the longer my stories were. It went from stories, to a novella, to full blown novels.
I’m not sure how many books I’ve written because I’ve started a lot and didn’t finish but I would say around 5 that were completed.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called The Kinetic Keeper. I remember the very day the concept came about. I was standing in line at a theater going to see Twilight (don’t make fun of me :)) for the 3rd time. (Again, don’t make fun of me) I was vaguely aware of everything that was going on around me and I began to think of a concept of a girl who constantly knew of everything going on around her and the fact that she could react so quickly to it.
Well the story started out like that but over the months, the concept changed quite a bit and I realized I wanted to have girl who discovered she had multiple abilities like telekinesis and such. Well, once I got hooked on that, I started spitting out page after page and six months later, The Kinetic Keeper was born.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I can think of. I’ve read so many different ways of how people need to write. Some need total silence, others need music. Some make themselves write a certain amount a day and others just wing it. I’d have to say I’m more of a wing it type person. I do try to set a timer sometimes and just do nonstop writing or editing in that time frame so I don’t have to focus on anything else. Otherwise, I’ll write a little, then clean my house a little, then write a little, then check facebook or a while. I’m bouncy like that. 🙂
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I remember in my teenage years, my favorite author was Christopher Pike. I just loved his books. Then when I got older, Dean Koontz became my favorite author. And I always thought I like realistic stories but now that I look back, these authors both had supernatural elements to their stories and I realized mine was always a bit of the same. So I guess they unknowingly influenced me.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the second book in the Kinetic series, The Kinetic Kin.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Well, I’m learning a lot about promoting and google is my friends when it comes to that. Also, the typicals: Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads. And some sites I’ve paid a bit of money to help promote. Whatever I can find and do, I will.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you’re self publishing, be sure to take the time and make sure it looks good when it goes on the kindle or nook or whatever electronic device it may be going on. I read one book where the author just slapped her book on it and the formatting was all over the place. The story was good but it was definitely a turn off to see such a sloppy book because someone was a bit too eager to get their book out there. Have a little patience and make sure everything’s right. It’ll pay off in the end.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Probably to put my book on the kindle instead of continuously trying to go through agents and publishers. I would get rejection after rejection and every time, it would crush my spirit. But then someone convinced me to just put it on the kindle, not because it’s free (which is great) but because that way, it’s the readers who are the ones letting you know how great or not great your book is, not some agent. After all, the readers are the one’s who matter. That being said, I’m not putting down publishers and such, I think they’re great. But sometimes, you gotta do your own thing.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading the Divergent series a second time, currently on the second, Insurgent.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m planning on writing this series out and after that, who knows. I guess we’ll see where life takes me. I know I will never stop writing though.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. Dean Koontz- Life Expectancy
2. Judy Blume- Summer Sisters
3. The Kinetic Keeper – Angel Stage 😉 (had to do that one lol)
Author Websites and Profiles
Angel Stage Amazon Profile
Angel Stage’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account